First day on the job: Backbase February 1, 2010
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in Backbase.Tags: Backbase, job
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As of today, February 1st, I will be joining the Backbase team as Product Manager Online. In this position I will be responsible for the online marketing and the online activities of Backbase.
Backbase designs and implements Customer Experience Solutions (Rich Portal, Rich Forms & Calculators, Rich Product Finder, Co-browse & Chat) to global 2000 organizations to maximize customer engagement and conversion via their online channels. Next to the core portal solution and other Rich Internet Applications (RIA), Backbase is an expert in user experience design en UX enginering. Backbase works for major clients such as ABN AMRO, KPN, ING, Philips, Visa, AIG, EMC, IBM and Vanguard.
Backbase is privately funded, holds offices in Amsterdam, San Francisco and New York and employs about 100 people around the globe. Backbase was founded in 2003 by Jouk Pleiter (CEO) and Gerbert Kaandorp (CTO).
No more eFresh.com January 25, 2010
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in GET NV, eFresh.com.Tags: efresh, eFresh.com, GET Holding NV, GET NV, getnv
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Just a few months ago, I wrote an enthusiastic blog post about the company for which I work — eFresh.com. At the time, I was writing about all that we had accomplished over the last few years and our goals for the future. Unfortunately, the day before Christmas, both the daughter company, GET NV, and the holding company, GET Holding NV, filed for bankruptcy. This was much unexpected and really not according to our plans for the coming year.
Last week, the Dutch court officially declared GET NV and GET Holding NV bankrupt. After a few weeks of ambiguity, it was good the have it officially closed and ended. Obviously, however, this was a very abrupt end and one not foreseen for the team and the members and partners of eFresh.com.
I spent two and a half years at GET NV, most of this time working on the core service of eFresh.com. These two and half years were filled with challenges, a great deal of fun and hard work, during which I learned from those with whom I worked and attained both personal and professional growth.
But now it is time for something new.
7 tools to make online collaboration easy November 23, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in Algemeen, Innovatie, Internet, Product Management, Project Management, Tips, web20.Tags: agilebuddy, github, google apps, mindmeister, notable, Skype, yammer
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More and more startups are working in distributed teams. Teams with people in different countries and time zones. Keeping the team up to date and aligned is key for success. 7 tools to make online collaboration easy, thanks to CrunchBase for the introductions:
AgileBuddy: agree on specs
AgileBuddy is next generation Scrum project management software that lets you easily Create, Estimate, Plan and Track your software projects. Leading edge software companies are all making the move to Agile methodologies like Scrum.
GitHub: share the source
Git is a distributed software management program created by Linus Torvalds. GitHub is a hosted Git repository. Github allows you to take part in collaboration by forking projects, sending and pulling requests, and monitoring development.
Yammer: keep the team posted
Yammer is a tool for making companies and organizations more productive through the exchange of short frequent answers to one simple question: “What are you working on?”
As employees answer that question, a feed is created in one central location enabling co-workers to discuss ideas, post news, ask questions, and share links and other information. Yammer also serves as a company directory in which every employee has a profile and as a knowledge base where past conversations can be easily accessed and referenced.
Anyone in a company can start their Yammer network and begin inviting colleagues. The privacy of each network is ensured by limiting access to those with a valid company email address. The basic Yammer service is free. Companies can pay to claim and administer their networks.
Skype: for the direct conversation
Skype is a peer-to-peer Internet telephony service that is free for Skype-to-Skype calls. The service also allows Skype users to call mobiles and landlines, and vice-versa. Skype has special charge plans for non-Skype-to-Skype calls. Skype is expanding from its traditional computer-based calls to mobile applications.
Notable: feedback, easy and simple
Quickly and easily give feedback on design, content, and code on any page of a website or application without leaving your browser. Notable is a page capture utility with powerful annotation features that let you pinpoint copy, design elements and even code that needs to be tweaked. It’s the most comprehensive feedback tool on the Web.
The tool works on PC, Mac, and iPhone.
Google Apps: e-mail, chat, calendar, but above all: docs
Google Apps, is a web-based office suite offering businesses email, document creation, and collaboration functionality. Google Docs is Google’s free web-based word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation application. The online app allows users to easily share documents and collaboratively work on them in real-time.
MindMeister: mind mapping to the max
MindMeister is a collaborative mind mapping tool built on the principles of Web 2.0 to allow people from around the world to work together on their mind maps with nothing else but a browser and an internet connection. MindMeister supports all the standard features of a classic mind mapping tool – only online, and with as many simultaneous users as you like!
eFresh.com: A Brief Update October 30, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in GET NV, eFresh.com.Tags: efresh, eFresh.com, GET NV
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I started at Global E-Trading (GET) NV more than two year ago, which is the company behind eFresh.com, joining a small startup company with a team of not more than 12 people. Today, after the acquisition of more than 15 different companies and web portals, eFresh.com consists of a team of 75 people, located in six different countries, in seven different offices and in five different time zones. As a result, our ‘baby company’ becomes rather more difficult to handle as an adolescent. What first started as a “let’s get in the meeting room for pizza and get our hands dirty” kind of development is no more. We’re talking about business processes, requirements management, shareholder meetings, management reports, VP levels and executive meetings. With size comes the more difficult need to structure and manage. Do I like it? Yes! It is a great ongoing experience and challenge.
What have we done?
At the end of 2007 we acquired the domain name eFresh.com: a strong brand name, short and concise.
In January of this year we were very happy to announce the fact that we raised 4.25 million Euro in funding from an investment round in which Rabobank also participated.
In May, we launched our new look and feel with the move from our product category portals to one big portal — or actually 1,000,000 portals. Internally we called this project ‘One-One Million.’ Why? This one big portal should be a personalised portal for each and every one of our members. All our members should have the feeling that “this is my personal cockpit.”
In July we launched the ‘Storefront’: the solution for producers of fresh products to successfully promote their company and goods. At this moment, just two months later, 38% of our member base has already created and published their own mini-websites!
At the beginning of this month, eFresh.com attended, for the second time, the Horti Fair, one of the largest horticulture tradeshows in the world. Last year we were the unknown company at the back of Hall 7. This year we were immediately recognized. Members came over to meet us and competitors stopped by to learn more about our strategy; some of them even called us ‘the enemy.’ I think we’re getting there! 
What is next?
At this moment, eFresh.com is the biggest online sourcing platform (dating site) for the fresh produce industry. And our ERP system (Match-Online) is one of the fastest growing ERP solutions for Dutch flower traders and growers. Our goal for 2010 is to become the new platform for direct trade, as well, with a strong focus on the horticulture sector. In addition to this, we will expand our payment solutions to ensure secure and speedy online transactions.
And just maybe, after another year or so, the stock market will be ready for IPOs again?
I will keep you posted.
We’d like to hear your feedback, please tell us what you think October 5, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in Avartize.com.Tags: Avartize.com, feedback
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This is feedback we at Avartize.com like to hear 
Thank you Ken Cook!
Please Google, add the currency symbol to Google Finance August 24, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in Google.Tags: currency symbol, goog, Google, google finance, improvement, share price, usability
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It is good to know that Google reads my blog and improves their products based on my feedback. For example, on May 8th I wrote about some features that would really improve the use of Google Contacts. Now, less than a month later, I’m able to add multiple URLs to my contacts (however, they are probably still working on my other requested features…).
So, thanks for the Google Contacts improvements; and here’s to more to come! But, I also have a request regarding Google Finance. I like to follow different companies and their share prices using Google Finance: there is great data and good visualization on this site. But, for me it’s really difficult to see the ‘value’ of the share price, market gap and other value indicators. And the reason for this is that there is no currency symbol indicated.
I can imagine that the NASDAQ:GOOG share price is 460.41 dollar and not Euros. But when looking at the Dutch ING Group, AMS: INGA, 9.30 share price, I wonder. Euro or dollar? Chinese Alibaba.com, HKG: 1688, dollar? Euro? Or another currency? Numbers only translated into value for us when we know what they represent.
So please, Google, add the currency symbol to all price information displayed in Google Finance!
eFresh.com launches Storefront 2.0: Generate Producers July 26, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in eFresh.com.Tags: e-commerce, eFresh.com, GET Holding NV, GET NV, launch, storefront
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Today, we at eFresh.com launch our ‘Storefront 2.0′: The solution for producers of fresh products to successfully promote their company and goods. Simple and free, the Storefront is available for all members of eFresh.com, and setting it up takes no more than 20 minutes. After publishing the Storefront, the producer of these crops has his own website that is visible to buyers around the world; those buyers who are looking for new producers, better prices and quality products. The Storefront empowers our users. Promoting themselves online is the first step in finding new and more business partners. And is the first step in the e-commercialization of their business.
Storefront 2.0
In February of this year the first version of our Storefront was launched during the “Fruit Logistica” in Berlin. During this trade show, producers of fresh goods created their own Storefront. For them, this was the first time they had been able to show themselves on the Internet. For many of our users, it was the first time they delved into the field of sales and marketing; and they were really enthusiastic about this beta version of the Storefront. Since that time, more than 1,500 Storefronts have been published; and we have much greater insight into how our users work with and promote their Storefronts, and how it is bringing them business. The feedback and insight we received from these Storefronts was used to upgrade the Storefront to the 2.0 version.
Storefront 2.0 in short:
- One simple page with all the information you need as a producer of fresh goods:
- Contact information and company description
- Distributors and their information
- Product catalogue
- Current offers
- News
- Video presentations
- Short and simple vanity URL: http://efresh.com/myfarm
- Open your Storefront like you would open your shop. Invite all your customers in to take a look
- Be found online: The first step in promoting your quality products
- Undertake the first step in the e-commercialization of the fresh produce industry
eFresh.com Storefront: The best way to attract buyers.
Customize Your Avatar with Avartize.com July 17, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in Avartize.com.Tags: avartize, Avartize.com, avatar, profile picture, startup, twitter, web 2.0
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Today Avartize.com is up and running in silence beta mode! Avartize.com gives you, the Twitter user, the option to easily pimp your profile picture, also known as your avatar. Set your state to “busy,” tell your friends you’re on fire — or let everybody know you are out taking in that special event.
At Avartize.com, you also have the option to create your own overlays, so people can pimp their avatar with your artwork! Do you organize events? Let visitors utilize your overlays. Supporting a good cause? Show it by making your avatar purple, totally free! One click and it’s done. No installation or coding needed. Just create an Avatize.com account, upload your transparent image, and off you go!
And, when you get tired of your customized avatars, Avartize.com gives you the option to return to your old standby, pimp-free profile picture once again.
Founders
Avartize.com was founded by the Sneaker Entrepreneurs: Annedien Hoen, Strategy Master; Tanja de Bie, Design Master; and Leon Berenschot, Technology Master. Last week, Jelmer de Jong joined the Avartize.com team to ensure the optimal marketing and business proposition of Avartize.com.
Starting today, Avartize.com is live and available to you. In the upcoming weeks, the team will expand its service even further. Stay tuned!
eFresh.com launches new service delivery platform June 2, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in eFresh.com.Tags: efresh, eFresh.com, GET Holding NV, GET NV, launch, rebuild, redesign
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Within 4 years eFresh.com has positioned itself as the largest information, trading and transaction portal for the fresh industries. In Janary this year we raised 4,25 million euro, in a investment round in which Rabobank participated. Only a few months later we show a 106% member growth and are launching a new eFresh.com
Today eFresh.com launches not only a complete new portal with loads of new services, but also a delivery platform where it can deliver services from other companies to its customers.
Hans Robben CEO:
Being the largest portal in the world opens possibilities to other companies to sell their services to our install base. Our customers will benefit from ready to use ‘Trade Services’ which can be ordered and used within their well known eFresh.com environment.
Covering 201 countries and reaching to over 150.000 producers, eFresh.com enables any producer to work electronically with any buyer anywhere in the world. Providing producers with generic electronic tools such as web based inventory systems, trading mechanisms, shared inventories, collection and escrow services to name a few enables buyers and suppliers to source, trade, and deliver in a real time environment.
The problem in the fresh produce industry is that both retailers and whole sell companies have sophisticated ERP systems and the producers they buy from do not. Enabling producers with generic electronic tools connects them with their buyers, speeds up the delivery process and makes the distribution chain more efficient.
Hans Robben:
eFresh.com is a combination of eBay and Reuters and SAP for the fresh producer industries. We provide generic trading tools combined with real time accurate information on the fresh markets and even allow companies to electronically share inventories. With our real time payment solutions any supplier can deal with any buyer in the world immediately but in a safe and professional environment.
In this way we have created the largest fresh produce trading community, and if you take your business serious you should be there too!
